Country United Kingdom Branch Army Air Corps | Allegiance Queen Elizabeth II Size Squadron | |
Active 30 November 1942 - to present. Role Helicopter Support Unit (Volunteer) | ||
No. 679 (The Duke of Connaught's) Squadron AAC is a Helicopter Support squadron made up of the Volunteer Groundcrew of the Army Air Corps.
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655 Squadron
655 Squadron Army Air Corps (655 Sqn AAC) was formed as a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post unit on 30 November 1942 at Old Sarum Airfield, Wiltshire. The Squadron immediately deployed in support of the 8th Army to North Africa and subsequently moved to Italy, where it remained supporting various formations until its disbandment on 31 August 1945.
655 Sqn AAC reformed as an Army Air Corps Light Aircraft Squadron in Germany in April 1962 and was employed by 4 Division Aviation Headquarters from 1964 -1969. The Squadron then relocated to Topcliffe, Yorkshire in 1978. In 1979, the Squadron moved to Omagh in Northern Ireland, where it carried out anti-terrorist duties in support of 3 Brigade. At that time, part of the squadron was detached to RAF Aldergrove, where it assisted the forming of the Northern Ireland AAC.
In the summer of 1982, the Squadron moved to Shackleton Barracks at RAF Ballykelly, County Londonderry. The well-loved, robust Scout aircraft were replaced by the more modern Lynx AH, which were faster and had greater endurance.
The Squadron then moved to RAF Aldergrove in the summer of 1991, where it became part of 5 Regiment Army Air Corps, co-located with the rest of the Northern Ireland Regiment. The Squadron standardised on the newly introduced Lynx, with the advantages over the AH being improved avionics, reduced noise, better hover capability and more advanced composite rotor blades.
On 2 July 2006, 6 Regiment Army Air Corps was formed at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The Regiment's role is to provide groundcrew individual reinforcements to army aviation units for exercises and operational deployment.
In 2009, 655 Sqn AAC joined 6 Regt AAC (V) and became 655 Sqn AAC (V). The Squadron is based at the Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop.
679 Squadron
655 Squadron disbanded and with the re-role of D Company 3rd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment 1 April 2014 and became 679 Sqn. SHQ based in the Duke of Connaught's Barracks, Peronne Close, Portsmouth with A Flt and Middle Wallop for B Flight.
Role
655 (Scottish Horse) Squadron Army Air Corps (Volunteers) is a sub unit of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps covering the south and south west area, located at Middle Wallop, Hampshire. The Squadron is paired with the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop, where it provides ground support to the Apache. The squadron is trained in the loading of missiles, rockets and the refuelling of the aircraft in various locations around the world as part of the Forward Arming and Refuelling Point. The Army Reserve only recruits groundcrew and support elements.
Battle honours
The battle honours were displayed on the guidons of the Scottish Horse, which are now laid up in Dunkeld Cathedral.